Mohamed Salah of Egypt looks on in the Africa Cup of Nations game against Ghana at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, January 18, 2024. /CFP
Ace striker Mohamed Salah of Egypt will leave the national team after they finish the group games at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d'Ivoire, and return to Liverpool for treatment on his posterior injury, the Egypt Football Association (EFA) confirmed on Sunday.
"After additional examinations were conducted on Mohamed Salah during the last hours, and after communication between the national team's medical staff and his counterpart at Liverpool FC, it was decided that the player will return to England after the Cape Verde match tomorrow to complete his treatment, with the hope that he will join the national team in the semi-final of the AFCON if we qualify," the EFA said in a statement.
According to Liverpool, Salah suffered the injury in the first half of the AFCON game against Ghana on January 18 in Group B. Having finished their first two games with draws, Egypt are currently in the second place behind Cape Verde and ahead of Ghana. Top-two teams of each group plus the four best-performing No. 3 teams will advance to the knockout stage.
Liverpool said that Salah is expected to miss the next two games of Egypt if they reach Round of 16. The national team still wants him to play at AFCON if they go far enough at the tournament.
Mohamed Salah (#10) of Egypt dribbles in the Africa Cup of Nations game against Ghana at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, January 18, 2024. /CFP
"We are hoping to catch him in the semifinals of the Africa Nations Cup in case of qualification," the EFA said.
Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp believes it's best for Salah to have his injury treated by the club's medical staff. He also said that if Salah recovers quickly enough, he may join to play for the national team again.
"I'm not a doctor," Klopp told reporters. "I would say if Egypt qualifies for the final then probably yes. Ivory Coast, I'm sure it's a wonderful country, but we have no people from us there. They have people who have to take care of the players who are playing."
"I am happy to be here, my injury is still there but the most important thing is to speak about the gam," Salah said of his injury on January 20. "We have great players, a great team and we just need to fight and see what is going to happen"